If you give up your life for Me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
I’m not one to give up easily. This quality has served me well in some situations. In others, however, I may have needed to give up long before I did. It’s worth examining. Especially since in this verse, that’s exactly what Jesus says to do: Give up. Give up your life in order to find it. What does He mean by this?
I believe it has something to do with our willingness to surrender all we have—and all that we are and dream of—to Him. Some of us may have a strong desire for things. The goal to get things can be all-consuming. Jesus invites us to give up the chase for things and enter into something better, something deeper—life in Him.
Others may not focus on things. We may have carved out a life we find comfortable and want to cling to it too tightly. I once knew a man who had a good job and a perfectly normal life with his family in the suburbs. He felt Jesus said to him one day, “This is not the life I have for you. Give it up for Me and you will find out how to really live.” They took off to join Youth With A Mission and became missionaries. Still others may have dreams—even dreams they believe God has inspired—and they will do anything they can to make them come true.
I believe sometimes Jesus says to us, “Are you willing to give up that dream if I ask you to? In order to find your life?” This is the one I have struggled with the most. I’ve had to learn in my life that sometimes we must let things die in order to live in His peace. In some cases, when we’ve done all we can do, we need to give up. To trust Him, and find our peace again.
Faith Step: Take a personal inventory of what consumes your attention. Is there anything you need to give up in order to find your life in Jesus? Write down these items and ask Jesus to help you give them up willingly.
